Nissan Navara RX road test review

Japanese brand mixes work and play with all-new workhorse featuring more car-like features.

Nissan Navara RX road test review

17 Jul 2015Andrew Maclean

The humble workhorse ute is being gentrified and creeping away from worksites into suburban driveways as a legitimate alternative to the ever-growing league of SUVs.

The popularity of four-door (or dual-cab) utes has risen to record levels in recent years, with the likes of the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton consistently among the top 10 selling vehicles in Australian showrooms each month. The genesis of the elevation can be attributed firstly to the housing and mining booms, but car makers also cottoned to their growing family appeal – offering the versatility of a working vehicle during the week and a do-it-all weekend warrior – and have introduced more car-like attributes in recent generations.

This year sees a wholesale update to all the major players in the category, and Nissan's latest Navara crosses further than most into car-like territory while still maintaining its working roots.

What do you get?

Nissan offers a myriad of options in its NP300 Navara range, dictated by four different model grades, the choice of either two- or four-wheel drive and manual or automatic transmissions. The Navara range is currently only available with a dual-cab body, with Nissan adding single cab and king cab variants later this year.

Nissan's new Navara is more SUV like than ever before. Photo: Supplied

The range starts at $26,490 (plus on-road costs) for the basic DX, the only model offered exclusively in two-wheel drive and with a petrol engine, the 122kW/238Nm 2.5-litre four cylinder also used in the X-Trail SUV and Altima sedan. The DX is designed specifically as a work vehicle and comes fitted with 15-inch steel wheels, cloth seating, vinyl floor covering and a six-speaker audio with Bluetooth streaming and phone connection.

The RX model we're testing here steps things up a notch with its stronger single-turbo diesel engine and a few more goodies such as larger 16-inch wheels, chrome exterior highlights, carpeted floor covering, an electric sliding rear window, keyless entry and privacy glass. But, despite its tradie-focus, it costs a fair bit more, with prices starting at $32,990 (plus on-roads). Our test car was fitted with four-wheel drive and a seven-speed automatic, which cost $7000 and $2500 respectively across all models..

The focus for families comes into play with the ST model, which commands a $6000 premium for not only receiving a more powerful twin-turbo diesel engine but also picking up 16-inch alloy wheels, a five-inch colour screen with smartphone integration and a reverse camera as well as a chrome rollover bar, side steps and LED headlights. The flagship ST-X is another $6k hike, but brings larger 18-inch alloys, a versatile tub liner for the tray, leather accented interior trim, a larger 7-inch touch screen with sat nav, dual-zone climate control and smart key access with push-button start.

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All Navara variants are fitted with seven airbags, are covered by a three-year/100,000km warranty and have a capped-priced service scheme for the first 120,000km with service intervals occurring at 10,000km or every 12 months.

All diesel-powered variants are among the best in class for towing with a braked capacity of 3500kg (the petrol DX can pull a maximum of 1588kg) and all models have a one-tonne payload ceiling.

What's inside?

The new Navara brings a more modern, car-like interior than its predecessor with a flowing dashboard design and higher-quality materials.

In the RX specification, it still looks pretty rudimentary with its basic audio system and simple controls for the heating and aircon in the centre console, but it is all fairly logically laid out with clear instruments and plenty of storage options including large cupholders, big door bins, a binnacle in front of the gear lever and tray in the top of the dash complete with its own 12V power outlet.

The front seats are flat and lack support but are comfortable for long-distance cruising with plenty of adjustment and good vision from the driver's pew, although there is no reach adjustment to the steering wheel.

There's adequate (but not class-leading) space for adults across the rear bench, which also has dedicated air vents and the base can be flipped-up to expose additional storage space underneath. The electric-sliding rear window is another neat touch, allowing easy access to items in the tray, which also features a dedicated 12V power socket but tie-down points are limited to each corner and are prone to bending under load.

Under the bonnet

Following the passenger-car trend to downsize engines to chase greater fuel efficiency, the new Navara features a smaller 2.3-litre four cylinder engine rather than the V6 that powered the last model.

In the RX specification tested here, it has a single turbo configuration that produces 120kW and 403Nm – not the highest outputs in the class, but certainly on-par with rivals that feature larger capacity engines. The twin-turbo configuration increases power to 140kW and torque lifts to a best-in-class 450Nm.

Like most turbo diesels, there's a fair amount of clatter at low engine speeds but it is otherwise reasonably refined once of the move with a smooth and linear power delivery and a strong surge of pulling power from its mid-range that makes for effortless cruising and swift overtaking.

The engine is well suited to the smooth-shifting seven-speed automatic that is intuitive enough to ensure it is in the right gear at the right time, including labouring along at highway speeds to lower fuel consumption.

Speaking of which, Nissan claims the Navara consumes a best-in-class average of 7.1L/100km in our RX four-wheel drive specification (and as low as 6.3L/100km in the rear-drive ST with its twin-turbo engine). In real-world conditions, we saw just under 9L/100km on a mix of suburban and freeway driving, which is still pretty respectable for such a large car.

On the road

The Navara is the first – and so far only – vehicle in its class to eschew a heavy-duty leaf-spring rear suspension system for a more car-like coil-spring set-up; a move Nissan claims is designed to provide a more comfortable driving character while still maintaining the strength and durability it needs to cart, and tow, heavy loads.

The reality is it doesn't change the game as much as the Japanese car maker says, as the Navara still rides with the usual traits of a workhorse ute when driven without a load in the tray. While it is a vast improvement over the ageing car it replaced, the NP300's front suspension is fidgety over patchy surfaces and is upset by big bumps, particularly in the middle of a corner. While the softer rear-end is more composed, as experienced in a recent comparison test it doesn't handle a heavy load as competently as others.

The steering is well-weighted with good on-centre feel but is slow across the ratio and its 11.8m turning circle and 3.7-turns lock-to-lock means plenty of wheel work is needed to navigate out of tight spaces.

But, while there's the usual body roll through the bends, the Navara is generally sure-footed and stable at speed, where road and wind noise is well insulated from the cabin.

The four-wheel drive system can be activated on the fly at speeds up to 100km/h, and (while we didn't test it out in extreme conditions) it has the on-paper specs to suggest it is supremely capable in the rough stuff with good ground clearance (217mm) and approach, departure and ramp-over angles (32.5 degrees, 25.9 degrees and 22.7 degrees respectively).

Verdict

There's plenty to like about the new Navara, including its more modern styling, spacious and versatile cabin and strong yet efficient engine, as well as the wide range of models that meet the demands of cost-conscious tradies right through to cashed-up adventurous families. But in trying to balance those opposing demands, the Navara isn't the cheapest in its class, and nor is it the classiest to drive or competent at carrying a load.